University of Colorado head coach Mike MacIntyre runs on to the field in front of Woodson Greer III at the start of the game against the University of Oregon on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013, at Folsom Field.
(Jeremy Papasso / Daily Camera)

COLORADO SPRINGS — — The University of Colorado Board of Regents on Thursday voted to extend first-year football coach Mike MacIntyre's contract by one year.

The regents voted to amend MacIntyre's existing contract so that it extends through Dec. 31, 2018. MacIntyre's contract was set to end Dec. 31, 2017.

In his first season, MacIntyre led the Buffs to a 4-8 record. His contract, set to pay out $2 million annually for five years, was first approved by the regents on Dec. 12, 2012.

The amendment to MacIntyre's contract does not include any changes to his compensation, university officials said.

"We've been very impressed with Coach MacIntyre's values, his personality, his character, and it's been very impressive to me how the team has responded to the coach and his culture, the culture he wishes to establish," said Regent Jim Geddes, R-Sedalia. "He has mechanisms that clearly are being successful already. I think this was more a vote of confidence in the coach."

The amendment changes the term of MacIntyre's contract from Jan. 2, 2013 through Dec. 31, 2017 to Jan. 1, 2014 to Dec. 31, 2018. The amendment also deletes paragraphs in the contract that reference obligations that have already been fulfilled, and updates the provisions regarding violations of NCAA and Pac-12 legislation.

MacIntyre's contract includes a paragraph about him meeting with the athletic director at the end of every calendar year to discuss extending his contract.

When MacIntyre and CU athletic director Rick George met at the end of 2013, George was pleased with what MacIntyre had accomplished in his first year, said Chancellor Phil DiStefano.

This year's recruiting class will be the first brought to CU by MacIntyre and his staff, and the university wanted to reassure that group that MacIntyre will be their coach for the next four years, DiStefano said.

"Rick really wanted to show his confidence in what Mike MacIntyre is doing both on the field and in the classroom, and also given the talented recruits that he's bringing in this year," DiStefano said.

The extension comes a day after George unveiled to the regents his strategic plan for the athletic department for the next three years, which included athletic objectives as well as academic, financial and other goals between 2014 and 2017.

His goals for MacIntyre and his staff include Colorado playing in a bowl game as early as this fall, and competing in the Pac-12 championship as early as 2016.

Geddes, who chairs the regents' intercollegiate athletics subcommittee, said right now he "couldn't be happier" with MacIntyre, but said he understands the pressure on universities to look at a coach's record after a few years.

"In the field of athletics, sometimes win-loss records begin to dominate the situation, and that remains to be seen," he said. "My prediction is we're going to win the Pac-12 the next three years."

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